Construction device information processing system and construction device information processing method

ABSTRACT

An intermediate server  6  or a main server  5  executes the steps of displaying a work site of a construction machine or a predetermined area regarding the work site on a subcontractor&#39;s personal computer  62 , prompting an input for applying to an order for work of repair/replacement of parts belonging to a predetermined component section of the construction machine, extracting the predetermined qualification requirements, which have been stored in a database  6 A beforehand, from the database based on received applying information, producing an examination sheet for determining whether a local subcontractor meets the extracted qualification requirements, transmitting the examination sheet produced in the producing step to the subcontractor&#39;s personal computer  62  via a communication network, and prompting an input in predetermined places of the examination sheet. An information processing system and an information processing method for construction machines are provided which can present satisfactory services to the customer side even when the work site is in, e.g., a remote frontier region.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an information processing system forconstruction machines, and more particularly to an informationprocessing system for construction machines and an informationprocessing method for construction machines, which enable satisfactoryservices to be presented to the customer side even when a work site isin a remote frontier region or the like.

BACKGROUND ART

In hydraulic construction machines such as hydraulic excavators,maintenance has been conventionally carried out by servicemen whoperiodically make the rounds of their assigned areas. The servicemenmeasure operation data of the hydraulic construction machines andcomponent parts thereof, and predict the life of each part based ondesign data and experiences. Then, the servicemen individually managethe timing of maintenance and other information to prevent theoccurrence of failures.

To cope with those situations, as disclosed in, e.g., JP,A 2000-259729,an information providing system for construction machines is alreadyknown in which, by utilizing the recent information communicationtechnology, information such as operation data of construction machinesdistributed all over the world is transmitted to one place so that theinformation of all the construction machines is collected and managed ina centralized manner based on the transmitted data.

According to that prior-art system, the operating status of eachconstruction machine is detected as operation data by operation sensors,and the detected operation data is periodically transmitted by anoperation data communicating device to a support center installed in onecertain place. The support center receives the transmitted operationdata and records it in a main database. Based on the recorded operationdata, the support center predicts a possibility of the occurrence offailures for each construction machine and automatically outputs areport. Such a system configuration liberates the servicemen from skillsotherwise required for prediction of failures and enables the predictionof failures to be always made at a certain level of accuracy.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

Because construction machines are used outdoor under severe environmentsfrom their own characteristics, customer services, such as repair,replacement and maintenance of parts after manufacturing and selling,are very important in the field of construction machines. It is generalthat the customer services are performed by a number of sellingcompanies (so-called dealers), branch offices, etc., which are set up inwidely distributed way in each of, e.g., divided districts or areas. Theselling companies, etc. are constantly in direct contact with customersand are well acquainted with specific situations and environments (suchas natural environment, economical environment, legal situation,cultural background, and labor environment) per local area and customer.Based on those stances and knowledge, the selling companies, etc. cangive sufficiently satisfied and appropriate care to the customers withcareful consideration.

Depending on work to be carried out by construction machines, the worksite is often located in a remote region, e.g., a village in the bosomof a mountain or a frontier area, far away from the place where theselling company, etc. exists. Such a case tends to occur especially inconstruction work for new highways or railroads, mining, and so on. Evenin that case, the prior-art system enables the support center to managethe operating statuses of construction machines in a centralized mannerand to predict a possibility of failures. However, customer servicesbased on the collected data are actually performed by the sellingcompanies, etc., and the distance to the work site is often very longeven from the nearest selling company, etc., as mentioned above. Forthose reasons, it is in fact difficult to present satisfactory servicesto the customer side.

The present invention has been made in view of the situations set forthabove, and its object is to provide an information processing system forconstruction machines and an information processing method forconstruction machines, which enable satisfactory services to bepresented to the customer side even when a work site is in a remotefrontier region or the like.

-   (1) To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an    information processing system for construction machines, which    presents, to customers owing construction machines, service    information for each of the construction machines, wherein the    information processing system comprises a database for storing    predetermined qualification requirements with regard to a working    capability, equipment and facilities necessary for    repair/replacement of parts of the construction machine; and a    service server disposed on the side providing information calling    for a repair/replacement subcontractor for the construction machine    and connected via a communication network to terminals on the side    of recipients receiving the information calling for the    repair/replacement subcontractor for the construction machine, the    service server executing the steps of displaying a work site of the    construction machine or a predetermined area regarding the work site    at the terminals on the information recipient side, and prompting an    input for applying to an order of repair/replacement work for parts    belonging to a predetermined component section of the construction    machine; confirming applying information entered from the terminals    on the information recipient side; extracting the predetermined    qualification requirements, which have been stored in the database    beforehand, from the database based on the applying information    received in the confirming step; producing, based on the    qualification requirements extracted in the extracting step, an    examination sheet for determining whether the information recipient    meets the extracted qualification requirements; and transmitting the    examination sheet produced in the producing step to the terminals on    the information recipient side via the communication network, and    prompting an input in predetermined places of the examination sheet.

In the present invention, when the work site of the construction machineowned by the customer is located in a remote region, e.g., a village inthe bosom of a mountain or a frontier area, far away from the placewhere the selling company or the like exists, a subcontractor ispublicly called for who exists in the neighborhood and is capable ofpresenting services (supply of parts or repair/replacement work). Morespecifically, a work site of the construction machine or a predeterminedarea regarding the work site is displayed on, e.g., a homepage of theselling company or the like, and a calling-for screen is displayed onthe homepage to prompt an input for applying to an order of supply ofparts of the construction machine to be serviced or repair/replacementwork for the parts. When an input for applying to the order is enteredfrom one or more subcontractors demanding to receive the order,predetermined qualification requirements are extracted which are used todetermine whether parts capable of being supplied from the applyingsubcontractor meet the specifications, or whether the applyingsubcontractor has a working capability, equipment, facilities, etc.necessary for the repair/replacement of the parts. An examination sheetis produced depending on the extracted qualification requirements and istransmitted to the applying subcontractor to be displayed there, thusprompting an input in predetermined places of the sheet. This enablesthe selling company or the like to judge whether the applyingsubcontractor is suitable as presenting the services to the relevantcustomer. Therefore, the selling company or the like can, for example,certify one of the applying subcontractors who has been judged asoptimum, and can commission the certified subcontractor to take chargein presenting the services to the relevant customer instead of theselling company or the like. As a result, even when the work site is ina remote place far away from the selling company or the like, it ispossible to call for and select the subcontractor suitable forpresenting the services in a near range from the work site, and topresent satisfactory services to the relevant customer.

-   (2) Also, to achieve the above object, the present invention    provides an information processing system for construction machines,    which presents, to customers owing construction machines, service    information for each of the construction machines, wherein the    information processing system comprises a database for storing    predetermined qualification requirements with regard to parts    necessary for repair/replacement of the construction machine; and a    service server disposed on the side providing information calling    for a subcontractor for supplying parts of the construction machine    and connected via a communication network to terminals on the side    of recipients receiving the information calling for the parts supply    subcontractor for the construction machine, the service server    executing the steps of displaying a work site of the construction    machine or a predetermined area regarding the work site at the    terminals on the information recipient side, and prompting an input    for applying to an order of supply of parts necessary for    repair/replacement related to a predetermined component section of    the construction machine; confirming applying information entered    from the terminals on the information recipient side; extracting the    predetermined qualification requirements, which have been stored in    the database beforehand, from the database based on the applying    information received in the confirming step; producing, based on the    qualification requirements extracted in the extracting step, an    examination sheet for determining whether the information recipient    meets the extracted qualification requirements; and transmitting the    examination sheet produced in the producing step to the terminals on    the information recipient side via the communication network, and    prompting an input in predetermined places of the examination sheet.-   (3) Further, to achieve the above object, the present invention    provides an information processing system for construction machines,    which presents, to customers owing construction machines, service    information for each of the construction machines, wherein the    information processing system comprises a database for storing    predetermined qualification requirements with regard to parts    necessary for repair/replacement of the construction machine and a    working capability, equipment and facilities necessary for the    repair/replacement; and a service server disposed on the side    providing information calling for a parts-supply and    repair/replacement subcontractor for the construction machine and    connected via a communication network to terminals on the side of    recipients receiving the information calling for the parts-supply    and repair/replacement subcontractor for the construction machine,    the service server executing the steps of displaying a work site of    the construction machine or a predetermined area regarding the work    site at the terminals on the information recipient side, and    prompting an input for applying to an order of supply of parts    necessary for repair/replacement related to a predetermined    component section of the construction machine and work of the    repair/replacement; confirming applying information entered from the    terminals on the information recipient side; extracting the    predetermined qualification requirements, which have been stored in    the database beforehand, from the database based on the applying    information received in the confirming step; producing, based on the    qualification requirements extracted in the extracting step, an    examination sheet for determining whether the information recipient    meets the extracted qualification requirements; and transmitting the    examination sheet produced in the producing step to the terminals on    the information recipient side via the communication network, and    prompting an input in predetermined places of the examination sheet.-   (4) In any one of above (1) to (3), the service server executes the    steps of receiving information entered in the predetermined places    of the examination sheet and transmitted from the terminals on the    information recipient side; determining, based on the entered    information received in the receiving step, who of the information    recipients meets the qualification requirements; producing, if the    determination is affirmatively made in the determining step, a proof    indicating that the relevant information recipient has been    certified as the parts-supply subcontractor, the repair/replacement    subcontractor, or the parts-supply and repair/replacement    subcontractor; and transmitting the proof of the certification    produced in the producing step to corresponding one of the terminals    on the information recipient side.-   (5) In any one of above (1) to (4), the service server is disposed    in a manufacturer or an information management firm commissioned    from the manufacturer, who is located in a region far away from the    work site of the construction machine owned by the customer and    faces a difficulty in presenting services directly to the customer.-   (6) In any one of above (1) to (4), the service server is disposed    in a commissioned service agency who is located nearer to the work    site of the construction machine owned by the customer than the    manufacturer, but faces a difficulty in promptly presenting services    the customer due to individual circumstances.-   (7) In any one of above (1) to (4), the service server is disposed    in a manufacturer or an information management firm commissioned    from the manufacturer, who is located in a region far away from the    work site of the construction machine owned by the customer and    faces a difficulty in presenting services directly to the customer,    or in a commissioned service agency who is located nearer to the    work site than the manufacturer, but faces a difficulty in promptly    presenting services the customer due to individual circumstances.-   (8) To achieve the above object, the present invention provides an    information processing method for construction machines via a    communication network connecting terminals on the side of recipients    receiving information calling for a repair/replacement subcontractor    for a construction machine and a service server disposed on the side    providing the information calling for the repair/replacement    subcontractor for the construction machine, wherein the service    server executes the steps of displaying a work site of the    construction machine or a predetermined area regarding the work site    at the terminals on the information recipient side, and prompting an    input for applying to an order of repair/replacement work for parts    belonging to a predetermined component section of the construction    machine; confirming applying information entered from the terminals    on the information recipient side; extracting predetermined    qualification requirements with regard to a working capability,    equipment and facilities necessary for repair/replacement of parts    of the construction machine, which have been stored in a database    beforehand, from the database based on the applying information    received in the confirming step; producing, based on the    qualification requirements extracted in the extracting step, an    examination sheet for determining whether the information recipient    meets the extracted qualification requirements; and transmitting the    examination sheet produced in the producing step to the terminals on    the information recipient side via the communication network, and    prompting an input in predetermined places of the examination sheet.-   (9) Further, to achieve the above object, the present invention    provides an information processing method for construction machines    via a communication network connecting terminals on the side of    recipients receiving information calling for a repair/replacement    subcontractor for a construction machine and a service server    disposed on the side providing the information calling for the    repair/replacement subcontractor for the construction machine,    wherein the service server executes the steps of displaying a work    site of the construction machine or a predetermined area regarding    the work site at the terminals on the information recipient side,    and prompting an input for applying to an order of supply of parts    necessary for repair/replacement related to a predetermined    component section of the construction machine; confirming applying    information entered from the terminals on the information recipient    side; extracting predetermined qualification requirements with    regard to parts necessary for repair/replacement of the construction    machine, which have been stored in a database beforehand, from the    database based on the applying information received in the    confirming step; producing, based on the qualification requirements    extracted in the extracting step, an examination sheet for    determining whether the information recipient meets the extracted    qualification requirements; and transmitting the examination sheet    produced in the producing step to the terminals on the information    recipient side via the communication network, and prompting an input    in predetermined places of the examination sheet.-   (10) Further, to achieve the above object, the present invention    provides an information processing method for construction machines    via a communication network connecting terminals on the side of    recipients receiving information calling for a repair/replacement    subcontractor for a construction machine and a service server    disposed on the side providing the information calling for the    repair/replacement subcontractor for the construction machine,    wherein the service server executes the steps of displaying a work    site of the construction machine or a predetermined area regarding    the work site at the terminals on the information recipient side,    and prompting an input for applying to an order of supply of parts    necessary for repair/replacement related to a predetermined    component section of the construction machine and work of the    repair/replacement; confirming applying information entered from the    terminals on the information recipient side; extracting    predetermined qualification requirements with regard to parts    necessary for repair/replacement of the construction machine and a    working capability, equipment and facilities necessary for the    repair/replacement, which have been stored in a database beforehand,    from the database based on the applying information received in the    confirming step; producing, based on the qualification requirements    extracted in the extracting step, an examination sheet for    determining whether the information recipient meets the extracted    qualification requirements; and transmitting the examination sheet    produced in the producing step to the terminals on the information    recipient side via the communication network, and prompting an input    in predetermined places of the examination sheet.-   (11) In any one of above (8) to (10), the service,server executes    the steps of receiving information entered in the predetermined    places of the examination sheet and transmitted from the terminals    on the information recipient side; determining, based on the entered    information received in the receiving step, who of the information    recipients meets the qualification requirements; producing, if the    determination is affirmatively made in the determining step, a proof    indicating that the relevant information recipient has been    certified as the parts-supply subcontractor, the repair/replacement    subcontractor, or the parts-supply and repair/replacement    subcontractor; and transmitting the proof of the certification    produced in said producing step to corresponding one of the    terminals on the information recipient side.-   (12) In any one of above (8) to (11), the service server is disposed    in a manufacturer or an information management firm commissioned    from the manufacturer, who is located in a region far away from the    work site of the construction machine owned by the customer and    faces a difficulty in presenting services directly to the customer.-   (13) In any one of above (8) to (11), the service server is disposed    in a commissioned service agency who is located nearer to the work    site of the construction machine owned by the customer than the    manufacturer, but faces a difficulty in promptly presenting services    the customer due to individual circumstances.-   (14) In any one of above (8) to (11), the service server is disposed    in a manufacturer or an in-formation management firm commissioned    from the manufacturer, who is located in a region far away from the    work site of the construction machine owned by the customer and    faces a difficulty in presenting services directly to the customer,    or in a commissioned service agency who is located nearer to the    work site than the manufacturer, but faces a difficulty in promptly    presenting services the customer due to individual circumstances.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a general schematic view of a construction machine managementsystem as a basis for one embodiment of an information processing systemfor construction machines according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the construction of oneexample of a hydraulic system equipped in a hydraulic excavator, alongwith sensors, to which one embodiment of the information processingsystem for construction machines according to the present invention isapplied.

FIG. 3 is a conceptual block diagram showing a flow of information inthe construction machine management system as a basis for one embodimentof the information processing system for construction machines accordingto the present invention.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing primary functions of a mainserver constituting the construction machine management system as abasis for one embodiment of the information processing system forconstruction machines according to the present invention.

FIG. 5 is a general schematic view of one embodiment of the informationprocessing system for construction machines according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 6 is a representation showing one example of file data loaded andstored as a database in a memory of an intermediate server constitutingone embodiment of the information processing system for constructionmachines according to the present invention.

FIG. 7 shows a flow of screen images displayed on a subcontractor'spersonal computer constituting one embodiment of the informationprocessing system for construction machines according to the presentinvention.

FIG. 8 shows one example of an examination sheet displayed on thesubcontractor's personal computer constituting one embodiment of theinformation processing system for construction machines according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 9 shows one example of the examination sheet displayed on thesubcontractor's personal computer constituting one embodiment of theinformation processing system for construction machines according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 10 shows one example of the examination sheet displayed on thesubcontractor's personal computer constituting one embodiment of theinformation processing system for construction machines according to thepresent invention.

FIG. 11 shows one example of the examination sheet displayed on thesubcontractor's personal computer constituting one embodiment of theinformation processing system for construction machines according to thepresent invention.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

One embodiment of an information processing system for constructionmachines according to the present invention will be described below withreference to the drawings.

This embodiment is premised, by way of example, on that a hierarchicalconstruction machine management system is constructed (see, e.g., FIG. 3described later) in which operation data, etc. of many constructionmachines are collected and stored via portable terminals, user-sidepersonal computers near work sites and a main server, and are thenmanaged in a centralized manner, while various items of informationobtained through various analyses made in the main server are outputtedto the user-side personal computers, as required, via intermediateservers in dealers or the likes (described later) (or directly from themain server in-some cases). In this respect, actual services for eachmachine are performed such that a serviceman who belongs tocorresponding one of the dealers or the likes set up in widelydistributed way in each of local districts or areas goes to each userand makes the services, such as various kinds of maintenance andtechnical explanations, based on the data outputted to the user-sidepersonal computer as described above and data newly obtained in theuser's work site.

On the basis of the foregoing premise, a principal feature of thisembodiment resides in that, when the work site of the relevantconstruction machine is located in a remote region, e.g., a village inthe bosom of a mountain or a frontier area, far away from the placewhere the dealer or the like exists and a large distance from theexisting dealer or the like imposes a difficulty in presentingsatisfactory services, such as maintenance, under those situations, afactory or the like existing at a relatively short distance from thesite and having a sufficient technical capability or a capability ofsupplying parts with satisfactory quality is certified as a new memberof the construction machine management system to present the servicesfor the relevant machine instead of the dealer or the like.

More specifically, in this embodiment, customer services, such asmaintenance, are commissioned to a subcontractor selected from amongneighboring ones who have applied for a public offer, when amanufacturer (or an information management firm commissioned from themanufacturer) exists in an area far away from the work site of theconstruction machine owned by the relevant customer and faces adifficulty in presenting the services directly to the relevant customer.Of course, if a later-described dealer or the like (i.e., a commissionedservice firm such as a selling company, a branch office or an agency)commissioned from the manufacturer exists in a place nearer to therelevant customer than the manufacturer and can promptly present theservices to the relevant customer, it is possible for the dealer or thelike to present the services to the relevant customer. However, evensuch a dealer or the like sometimes has a difficulty in promptlypresenting the services due to other various circumstances. In thatcase, a new subcontractor is sought, as described later, through thesteps of publicly calling for subcontractors capable of promptlypresenting the services, certifying one of the applicants, as a newcommissioned service subcontractor for presenting the services insteadof the manufacturer or the dealer or the like (described later), afterconfirming that the new subcontractor has a technical level satisfyingcertain standards, and incorporating a terminal of the new subcontractor(i.e., a subcontractor's personal computer 62 described later) in theinformation processing system of this embodiment.

On that occasion, factors imposing a difficulty for the manufacturer orthe dealer or the like, who is commissioned for the services at present,to promptly present the services to the customer include variouscircumstances represented by, e.g., the distance from the customer, thetime required for presenting the services, including the time requiredfor movement to the site, shortage of staff (personnel), the absence ofskills required for the services, and costs required for presenting theservices, along with labor costs.

Further, though explained later in detail, the following embodiment isdescribed, by way of example, in connection with the case in which anintermediate server 6 (described later) serves as a service server onthe side providing information calling for a construction-machine partssupply and repair/replacement subcontractor, and this service server isinstalled in the dealer or the like (described later) who exists nearerto the work site of the construction machine owned by the customer thanthe manufacturer, but has a difficulty in promptly presenting theservices from the above-mentioned various circumstances. However, thepresent invention is not limited to such an example. For instance, whenthe manufacturer is located relatively near the work site of theconstruction machine owned by the customer, but has a difficulty inpromptly presenting the services, the service server may be installedin, instead of the dealer or the like, the manufacturer or theinformation management firm commissioned from the manufacturer. In sucha case, the later-described intermediate server 6 may be disposed in themanufacturer or the information management firm, or the function of theservice server may be incorporated in a main server 5 (described later)that is installed in the manufacturer or the information managementfirm. It is a matter of course that, in anticipation of various cases,the service server may be installed in each of the manufacturer, theinformation management firm, the dealer or the like in each area.

-   (1) Construction Machine Management System

The construction machine management system as a basis for thisembodiment will first be described below.

FIG. 1 is a general schematic view of the construction machinemanagement system. This management system comprises a machine-sidecontroller 2 disposed in each of a plurality of hydraulic excavators 1(representative one is only shown in FIG. 1) currently working in thefields, a portable terminal 3 connectable to the controller 2 via, e.g.,a cable 3 a (including a wireless way), an information terminal(personal computer; hereinafter referred to as a “user-side personalcomputer”) 4 which is installed in, e.g., an office near the site wherethe hydraulic excavator 1 is operating and which is connectable to theportable terminal 3 via a cable 3 a (including a wireless way), a mainserver 5 installed in, e.g., a manufacturer of the hydraulic excavator 1(or an information management firm, etc. commissioned from themanufacturer), and an intermediate server 6 which is located in, e.g.,each of medium- or small-sized areas (per country, district, provincialblock (urban or rural prefecture), etc.) and which is installed in aselling company (dealer), a branch office, an agency, etc. (hereinafterreferred to as a “dealer or the like”) engaged in presenting services,such as maintenance, directly to each user (customer). The user-sidepersonal computer 4, the main server 5, and the intermediate server 6are connected to each other via information communication using acommunication line (such as the Internet via public communicationlines).

The hydraulic excavator 1 comprises a travel body 12, a swing body 13swingably mounted on the travel body 12, a cab 14 provided in a frontleft portion of the swing body 13, and a front operating mechanism(excavating device) 15 provided in a front central portion of the swingbody 13 in a vertically angularly movable manner. The front operatingmechanism 15 is made up of a boom 16 rotatably mounted to the swing body13, an arm 17 rotatably mounted to a fore end of the boom 16, and abucket 18 rotatably mounted to a fore end of the arm 17.

While the hydraulic excavator 1 is shown in FIG. 1, by way of example,as the so-called super-large-sized excavator or large-sized excavator ofa class having the body weight of several hundreds tons, which isemployed in, e.g., oversea mines in many cases, applications of thepresent invention are not limited to that class of excavators. In otherwords, the present invention is also applicable to the so-calledmedium-sized excavator of a class having the body weight of several tenstons (such as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 described later), which is mostpopularly employed in various construction work sites, etc. in Japan,and to the so-called mini-excavator in an even smaller class which isemployed in small-scaled work sites.

FIG. 2 is a diagram schematically showing the construction of oneexample of a hydraulic system equipped in the hydraulic excavator 1shown in FIG. 1, along with sensors, to which one embodiment of theinformation processing system for construction machines according to thepresent invention is applied.

In FIG. 2, a hydraulic system 20 equipped in the hydraulic excavator 1comprises, for example, hydraulic pumps 21 a, 21 b, boom control valves22 a, 22 b, an arm control valve 23, a bucket control valve 24, a swingcontrol valve 25, travel control valves 26 a, 26 b, a boom cylinder 27,an arm cylinder 28, a bucket cylinder 29, a swing motor 30, and travelmotors 31 a, 31 b.

The hydraulic pumps 21 a, 21 b are driven for rotation by a dieselengine (hereinafter referred to simply as an “engine”) 32 provided witha fuel injecting device (not shown) of the so-called electronic governortype, and deliver a hydraulic fluid. The control valves (regulationvalves) 22 a, 22 b–26 a, 26 b control respective flows (flow rates andflowing directions) of the hydraulic fluid supplied from the hydraulicpumps 21 a, 21 b to the hydraulic actuators 27–31 a, 31 b, and thehydraulic actuators 27–31 a, 31 b drive the boom 16, the arm 17, thebucket 18, the swing body 13, and the travel body 12. The hydraulicpumps 21 a, 21 b, the control valves 22 a, 22 b–26 a, 26 b, and theengine 32 are mounted in an accommodation room (engine room) behind theswing body 13.

Control lever devices 33, 34, 35 and 36 are disposed corresponding tothe control valves 22 a, 22 b–26 a, 26 b. When a control lever of thecontrol lever device 33 is manipulated in one X1 of two crosseddirections, an arm-crowding pilot pressure or an arm-dumping pilotpressure is produced and applied to the arm control valve 23. When thecontrol lever of the control lever device 33 is manipulated in the otherX2 of the two crossed directions, a rightward-swing pilot pressure or aleftward-swing pilot pressure is produced and applied to the swingcontrol valve 25.

When a control lever of the control lever device 34 is manipulated inone X3 of two crossed directions, a boom-raising pilot pressure or aboom-lowering pilot pressure is produced and applied to the boom controlvalves 22 a, 22 b. When the control lever of the control lever device 34is manipulated in the other X4 of the two crossed directions, abucket-crowding pilot pressure or a bucket-dumping pilot pressure isproduced and applied to the bucket control valve 24. Further, whencontrol levers of the control lever devices 35, 36 are manipulated, aleft-travel pilot pressure and a right-travel pilot pressure areproduced and applied to the travel control valves 26 a, 26 b. Thecontrol lever devices 33 to 36 are disposed in the cab 14 along with thecontroller 2.

Sensors 40 to 49 are disposed in the hydraulic system 20 having theconstruction described above. The sensor 40 is a pressure sensor fordetecting, as an operation signal of the front operating mechanism 15,the arm-crowding pilot pressure in this embodiment, and the sensor 41 isa pressure sensor for detecting, as a swing operation signal, the swingpilot pressure taken out through a shuttle valve 41 a. The sensor 42 isa pressure sensor for detecting, as a travel operation signal, thetravel pilot pressure taken out through shuttle valves 42 a, 42 b and 42c.

The sensor 43 is a sensor for detecting an ON/OFF state of a key switchfor the engine 32, the sensor 44 is a pressure sensor for detecting thedelivery pressure of the hydraulic pumps 21 a, 21 b, i.e., the pumppressure, taken out through a shuttle valve 44 a, and the sensor 45 isan oil temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of hydraulic oil(i.e., the oil temperature) in the hydraulic system 20. The sensor 46 isa revolution speed sensor for detecting the revolution speed of theengine 32. The sensor 47 a is a fuel sensor for detecting the amount offuel injected by the fuel injecting device of the engine 32 (i.e., thefuel consumption), the sensor 47 b is a pressure sensor for detectingthe blowby pressure in a cylinder of the engine 32, and the sensor 47 cis a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of a coolant(radiator water) for cooling the engine 32. The sensor 48 is a pressuresensor for detecting, as a digging pressure applied from the frontoperating mechanism 15, the pressure on the bottom side of the bucketcylinder 29 in this embodiment (or on the bottom side of the armcylinder 28). The sensor 49 a is a pressure sensor for detecting thetraveling pressure, i.e., the pressure of the travel motor 31 a or 31 b(for example, a maximum one of the pressures of the travel motors 31 aand 31 b may be taken out through a shuttle valve not sown), and thesensor 49 b is a pressure sensor for detecting the swing pressure, i.e.,the pressure of the swing motor 30. Detected signals of those sensors 40to 49 are all sent to and collected in the controller 2.

The controller 2 collects (as described later in detail) data regardingthe machine operation for each part of the hydraulic excavator 1(hereinafter referred to simply as “operation data”).

FIG. 3 is a conceptual block diagram showing a flow of information inthe construction machine management system shown in FIG. 1.

In FIG. 3, though not shown in detail, the machine-side controller 2 ineach hydraulic excavator 1 receives, from the sensors 40 to 49, pilotpressure detected signals for the front operating mechanism 15, swingand travel, a detected signal issued upon turning-on of the key switchfor the engine 32, a detected signal for the pump pressure of the pumps21 a, 21 b, an oil temperature detected signal, a detected signal forthe revolution speed of the engine 32, a coolant temperature detectedsignal, a digging pressure detected signal, a travel pressure detectedsignal, a fuel consumption detected signal, a blowby pressure detectedsignal, and a swing pressure detected signal. Based on those signals,the controller 2 computes not only the operation time for each part ofthe hydraulic excavator (e.g., the front operation time, the swingoperation time and the travel lever operation time, but also an averagepump delivery pressure, an average oil temperature, an average enginerevolution speed, an average fuel consumption rate, an average engineblowby pressure, an average coolant temperature, an average diggingpressure, an average traveling pressure, and an average engine runtime), followed by storing the computed values, as operation data, in anot-shown memory.

The operation data thus stored in the memory of the controller 2 of eachhydraulic excavator 1 is downloaded, along with machine body data (suchas the machine model and the machine number), to the portable terminal 3(see FIG. 1), which is carried with an operator and connected to thecontroller 2 of the hydraulic excavator 1 via the cable 3 a, byperforming a predetermined operation on the side of the portableterminal 3 (or the controller 2).

The operation data downloaded to the portable terminal 3 is furtherdownloaded to the user-side personal computer 4 by disconnecting thecable 3 a from the controller 2, then carrying back and connecting theportable terminal 3 to the user-side personal computer 4 via the cable 3a, and performing a predetermined operation on the side of the portableterminal 3 (or the user-side personal computer 4).

The operation data and the machine body data both downloaded to theuser-side personal computer 4 are first processed in the user-sidepersonal computer 4 by using an application program installed thereinbeforehand (or distributed from the side of the dealer or the like andinstalled as required), and are then displayed in a predetermined formatas service information representing the operation status of the relevanthydraulic excavator.

On the other hand, the operation data and the machine body data bothdownloaded to the user-side personal computer 4 are automaticallysearched from the side of the main server 5 via the intermediate server6 to check whether new data is stored in the user-side personalcomputer, for example, when a homepage of the dealer or the like isaccessed. If new data is found, the new data is sucked up from theuser-side personal computer 4 to the side of the main server 5 in theunprocessed state upon consent of the user side whenever accessed. Onthat occasion, in addition to the operation data and the machine bodydata of the hydraulic excavator 1, check data, repair data, etc.obtained at the time of routine check may also be manually entered forcollection by the service personnel (serviceman) belonging to the dealeror the like. Such entered data may also be taken into the main server 5.

The main server 5 comprises input/output interfaces 5 a, 5 b, a CPU 5 c,and a memory 5 d in which a database 5A is formed. The input/outputinterface 5 a receives the operation data and the machine body data fromall the user-side personal computers 4 corresponding to all thehydraulic excavators 1. At the same time, the main server 5 alsoseparately receives part repair/replacement data of each hydraulicexcavator 1 from an intra-company computer (not shown) on themanufacturer side and the intermediate server 6 belonging to the dealeror the like.

The CPU 5 c stores and accumulates those input data as the database 5Ain the memory 5 d, processes the information stored in the database 5A,and executes various analyses (described later in detail) primarilyregarding maintenance such as repair/replacement of the parts. Then, theCPU 5 c decides planned selling prices, etc. (described later in detail)for particular parts of the hydraulic excavator 1 based on results ofthose analyses, and transmits the decided data to the intermediateserver 6 through the input/output interface 5 b.

Though not shown, the main server 5 is able to display a similar screenimage to that in the user-side personal computer 4 on a display unit 5Dfor each of all the hydraulic excavators 1 with manipulation of akeyboard 5B and a mouse 5C.

FIG. 4 is a functional block diagram showing primary functions of themain server 5. The main server 5 has various processing functionsexecuted by a machine-body/operation data processing unit 50, aproduct-exchange and part-repair/replacement data processing unit 51,and a sales planning unit 53.

One function of the machine-body/operation data processing unit 50 is totransmit the operation data and the machine body data themselves in theunprocessed state to the intermediate server 6. The operation data ofeach hydraulic excavator 1 is further transmitted from the correspondingintermediate server 6 (belonging to the dealer or the like engaged inpresenting services to the user of the relevant hydraulic excavator 1)to the corresponding user-side personal computer 4 (belonging to theuser of the relevant hydraulic excavator 1). In practice, for example,at least those ones among the operation data and the machine body dataof all the hydraulic excavators 1 collected into the main server 5,which are related to the hydraulic excavators 1 belonging to therelevant user, e.g., which are owned, used or managed by the relevantuser, are downloaded to the user-side personal computer 4 (or theintermediate server 6 in a similar manner) with predeterminedmanipulation made on the user-side personal computer 4 (for example,through steps of accessing the homepage of the dealer or the like andclicking a download button on a predetermined screen image).

Another function of the machine-body/operation data processing unit 50is to compute distribution data of the number of working excavators withrespect to the operation time per machine model and per part of eachhydraulic excavator by using the operation data inputted from theuser-side personal computer 4, and to create a distribution graph of thenumber of working excavators based on the computed distribution data.The thus-created distribution graph is displayed on the display unit 5D(or the intra-company computer).

The product-exchange and part-repair/replacement data processing unit 51computes distribution data of the number of exchanged excavators withrespect to the operation time by using product-exchange andpart-repair/replacement data inputted from the intermediate server 6 orthe intra-company computer, and creates a distribution graph of thenumber of exchanged excavators based on the computed distribution data.Also, the processing unit 51 computes distribution data of the number ofrepaired/replaced parts in the past with respect to the operation timeand to create a distribution graph of the number of repaired/replacedparts based on the computed distribution data.

By referring to the distribution graph of the number of hydraulicexcavators with respect to the operation time of each hydraulicexcavator, the distribution graph of the number of hydraulic excavatorswith respect to the operation time per part, the distribution graph ofthe number of exchanged hydraulic excavators with respect to theoperation time of each hydraulic excavator, and the distribution graphof the number of repaired/replaced parts with respect to the operationtime per component section, which have been created by themachine-body/operation data processing unit 50 and the product-exchangeand part-repair/replacement data processing unit 51 as described above,the sales planning unit 53 predicts the number of parts belonging to,e.g., the front operating mechanism and the travel body (i.e., makesdemand prediction), which are to be repaired or replaced if the currentsituation will continue as it is, and then decides a sales plan for aparticular part of the hydraulic excavator based on the demandprediction.

Furthermore, based on the information created by themachine-body/operation data processing unit 50 and the product exchangeand part repair/replacement data processing unit 51, the sales planningunit 53 confirms respective particular parts of plural hydraulicexcavators 1 which have repair/replacement timings substantiallycoincident with each other, and decides the planned selling price ofeach of the confirmed particular parts depending on the number of thoseparts. Then, for at least one of the confirmed particular parts, thesales planning unit 53 decides a discount sales (campaign) period priorto the repair/replacement timing and a discount selling price (campaignprice) during the discount sales period based on a future change of themachine management cost and a future change of the machine value perhydraulic excavator owned by each customer. The planned selling price,the discount sales period, the discount selling price, etc. are thenoutputted to the intermediate server 6 as basic information used by thedealer or the like for presenting service to the corresponding customerof the relevant hydraulic excavator 1.

Returning to FIG. 3, similarly to the main server 5, each intermediateserver 6 comprises input/output interfaces 6 a, 6 b, a CPU 6 c, and amemory 6 d in which a database 6A is formed. Alternatively, the database6A may be formed in an external memory.

The input/output interface 6 a receives, from the main server 5, variousinformation such as the planned selling price, the campaign price(discount selling price), and the campaign period (discount salesperiod), which have been decided by the main server 5 for eachparticular part of the hydraulic excavator 1. Also, the input/outputinterface 6 a receives the operation data and the machine body datathemselves in the unprocessed state from the main server 5.

The CPU 6 c stores and accumulates those input data as the database 6Ain the memory 6 d, and then prepares an advice note for parts sales, asservice information presented to each customer, based on the variousinformation such as the planned selling price, the campaign price(discount selling price), and the campaign period (discount salesperiod). The advice note is transmitted to the user-side personalcomputer 4 of each customer via the input/output interface 5 b byE-mail, for example, (as an alternative, the user-side personal computer4 may access the homepage set up in the intermediate server 6 (e.g., thehomepage of the dealer or the like) and may download the advice notewith manipulation made on the side of the user-side personal computer4).

Further, the CPU 6 c has the function of transmitting the operation dataand the machine body data themselves in the unprocessed state to theuser-side personal computer 4 (alternatively, as in the above case, theuser-side personal computer 4 may access the homepage set up in theintermediate server 6 and download the data regarding the hydraulicexcavator owned by the user). On that occasion, a template and a formfor displaying the operation data and the machine body data along withan explanation expressed in user's own language may be provided in,e.g., the homepage of the dealer or the like, and the operation data andthe machine body data from the main server 5 may be provided to theuser-side personal computer 4 through some processing, such as insettingof those data into the template, etc., instead of being in theunprocessed state. Alternatively, it is also possible to translate onlylanguage parts, which are contained in the operation data and themachine body data from the main server 5, by the intermediate server 6and to present the translated text to the user-side personal computer 4.

In addition, the intermediate server 6 is able to display a similarscreen image to that in the user-side personal computer 4 on a displayunit 6D for one or more of all the hydraulic excavators 1, to which therelevant dealer or the like presents the services directly orindirectly, with manipulation of, e.g., a keyboard 6B and a mouse 6C.

The intermediate server 6 may be disposed in plural between the mainserver 5 and the user-side personal computer 4, instead of beingdisposed one as described above, so that data flows via a plurality ofintermediate servers in a hierarchical way. In such a case, for example,data is first outputted from the main server 5 to the intermediateserver 6 installed in an organization (e.g., the head office of theselling company or the general agency) supervising the plurality ofdealers or the likes, and is then outputted from that intermediateserver 6 to the other intermediate servers 6 belonging to the dealers orthe likes.

As described above, because the user-side personal computer 4 receivesnot only the advice note sent from the intermediate server 6 via E-mail,but also the operation data and the machine body data themselves in theunprocessed state, the user-side personal computer 4 can display, on thedisplay unit 4D, the advice note for the corresponding hydraulicexcavator 1 (not limited to one, and all of the advice notes if pluralhydraulic excavators are owned or used by the relevant customer), andeach of the above-described screen images regarding the hydraulicexcavator 1. Upon looking at those various screen images displayed onthe display unit 4D, the customer (user, etc.) requests explanation,analysis, etc. for the dealer or the like, if necessary, regarding,e.g., the contents and form of the displayed information. In reply, thedealer or the like goes to the customer side to make explanation andanalysis in response to questions, demands, etc. from the customer side.

Thus, with the construction machine management system, it is possiblefor the dealer or the like to allow, at his own discretion based on theinformation from the main server 5, final service information to bedisplayed in a predetermined form on the user-side personal computer 4,etc. through steps of, for example, accessing the homepage of the dealeror the like and clicking a download button on a predetermined screenimage, as described above, or to select or restrict users to which thedata is to be transmitted by actuating a lock so that the predetermineddata cannot be downloaded to some users, or disabling display of adownloading screen itself for some users. In other words, the functionson the side of the main server 5 (i.e., on the manufacturer side) arerestricted to those ones of receiving and collecting data from a largenumber of hydraulic excavators 1 and distributing the data, while ajudgment made based on the distributed data regarding, e.g., what kindsof services should be finally presented to the customer (user), is leftto the side of the intermediate server 6 (i.e., the side of the dealeror the like) taking charge of services in the closest relation to thecustomer. As a result, more appropriate and satisfactory services can bepresented to the customer side with careful consideration.

More specifically, the serviceman belonging to the dealer or the likegoes to the work site periodically or on demand from the user side, andrecognizes, for example, site situations and demands of the customer(user, etc.) through constant contact with the customer. Correspondingto the site situations and the demands, the serviceman carries outappropriate services, such as repair/replacement of parts, for eachhydraulic excavator 1 based on his own capability and judgment. Also,the serviceman makes explanation, analysis, and responses to questions,demands, etc. from the customer side regarding the data processing forthe hydraulic excavator 1, the contents and form of the serviceinformation finally displayed on the user-side personal computer 4, etc.

In addition, by advantageously utilizing a scale merit resulting fromthe capability of predicting the part repair/replacement timings of themany hydraulic excavators 1 and by performing repair/replacement ofrespective particular parts for the many hydraulic excavators in acollective manner, it is possible to improve productivity, distributionefficiency, etc., and to greatly reduce the repair/replacement costestimated for each hydraulic excavator 1. In this respect, by decidingthe discount sales period (campaign period) and the discount sellingprice (campaign price) for the particular part and displaying them onthe user-side personal computer 4, the dealer or the like can obtain anadvantage of positively ensuring a profit and promotion of sales withadvanced booking, while the customer side can obtain an advantage offurther reducing a cost burden based on setting of the discount sellingprice.

The hydraulic excavator 1′ shown in FIG. 3 is working in a remote sitefar away from the place where the dealer or the like exists. Because ofsuch a location, it has been hitherto difficult for the dealer or thelike to dispatch the serviceman to the site. With the informationprocessing system of this embodiment, however, a certified factory, etc.(described later in detail) is set up and a serviceman can be dispatchedto the site from the certified factory, etc. (as described later indetail).

-   (2) Expansion and Repletion of Management System with Certification    of Factory, etc.

Even with the management system equipped with the controller 2 havingthe functions of collecting and outputting various items of informationas described above, when the work site is located in a remote region,e.g., a village in the bosom of a mountain or a frontier area, far awayfrom the place where the dealer or the like exists and there is a largedistance from the existing dealer or the like to the work site as withthe hydraulic excavator 1′, the serviceman belonging to the dealer orthe like faces a difficulty in visiting the site constantly. Thisresults in a difficulty in collecting the operation data, etc. for thehydraulic excavator 1′ and managing the hydraulic excavator 1′ based onthe collected data.

In this embodiment, a factory or the like existing at a relatively shortdistance from the site and having a sufficient technical capability or acapability of supplying parts with satisfactory quality is certified asa new member to present the services for the hydraulic excavator 1′instead of the dealer or the like. Thus, the hydraulic excavator 1′ isalso incorporated in the management system through the certified factoryor the like so that satisfactory services are presented for the relevantmachine. A principal feature of this embodiment resides in publiclycalling for a member taking charge of the services from among variouslocal factories, repair shops, etc. (hereinafter referred to as “localsubcontractors”) who are located in a relatively near area from therelevant hydraulic excavator 1′, and then certifying, as the membertaking charge of the services, one of applicants who has passed anexamination with regards to qualification requirements.

FIG. 5 is a general schematic view of the information processing systemof this embodiment. The information processing system comprises theintermediate server (service server) 6 installed in the dealer or thelike who is originally assigned to take charge of the hydraulicexcavator 1′, and personal computers (various terminals) 62 a, 62 b, 62c, 62 d, etc. of the local subcontractors which are connected to theintermediate server 6 via a network including, e.g., the Internet, aLAN, a route control unit 61, and a telephone line. Though not shown indetail, each personal computer 62 has a display unit, such as a CRT orLCD, and an input unit, such as a keyboard or mouse.

The intermediate server 6 comprises, as described above, a CPU 6 a forexecuting control of various sections, transfer of data and variousarithmetic operations, a RAM (not shown) for temporarily storing data, aROM (not shown) for storing control programs, etc., input/outputinterfaces (I/O) 6 a, 6 b for controlling inputting and outputting ofdata with respect to the personal computers (hereinafter referred to as“subcontractor's personal computers”) 62 via the LAN and the Internet,and a memory 6 d (see FIG. 3).

FIG. 6 shows one example of file data loaded and stored as a database 6Ain the memory 6 d. As shown in FIG. 6, the database 6A contains anexamination sheet file 71, a map file 72, an image file 73, an applicantanswer file 74, a qualification requirement file 75, and an applicantinformation file 76. Details of data in these files will be describedlater in detail.

Details of a method for providing the information will be successivelydescribed below with reference to FIG. 7 that shows a flow of screenimages displayed on the subcontractor's personal computer 62.

Referring to FIG. 7, when the subcontractor's personal computer 62accesses the homepage of the intermediate server 6, a main screen 100 isdisplayed (exactly speaking, the intermediate server 6 outputs a displayinformation signal to the subcontractor's personal computer 62, and thesubcontractor's personal computer 62 receives the output signal anddisplays a screen image in accordance with the received information;this is similarly applied to all steps described below). Various itemsof news, buttons, etc. displayed on the main screen 100 contains a“Notice of Calling for Certified Factory” button 101 in the form of,e.g., a text or account. When an operator of the subcontractor'spersonal computer 62 manually operates (e.g., clicks; this is similarlyapplied to the following description) the button 101 on the screen, thedisplay images change to a work site display screen 110.

Using the map file 72 in the database 6A, the work site display screen110 displays a map including the position (work site) of a remoteregion, e.g., a village in the bosom of a mountain or a frontier area,far away from the place where the hydraulic excavator 1′, i.e., a targetof services (parts supply or parts repair/replacement) currently calledfor a subcontract factory, is working. Also, the work site displayscreen 110 prompts the operator to make an input for applying to theoffer regarding supply of predetermined parts in a certain componentsection (described later) of the hydraulic excavator 1′ or the offerregarding repair/replacement of predetermined parts.

In the example of FIG. 7, in addition to a geographic map ofsurroundings of the work site displayed on the screen 110, the work siteis indicated by a mark x at the center of the screen.

At that time, when the dealer or the like decides, e.g., a distance fromthe work site as one of the requirements for applying to the offer, thedistance may also be displayed together. For example, if the distancerequirement is given as a linear distance within ◯◯ km, it isconceivable to display a boundary line defined by a circle with theradius of the linear distance as well, to display only an area withinthe circle in the geographic map, or to display only a portion withinthe circle in a different color. As an alternative, a designated areaaround the work site may be decided in advance for display. In thiscase, it is conceivable, for example, to display only a targetadministrative district (or a district substantially corresponding toit), or to display only the target district in a different color.Further, display of the work site is not limited to the form of a map,and the site requirement may be displayed in the form of characteristicinformation or a list (e.g., “within the radius of ◯◯ km from the placexx” or “target areas are ◯◯ village, □□ village, and ΔΔ village”).

Alternatively, at the time of presenting an offer, the particularrequirement for the locations of the local subcontractors may not bepresented from the side of the dealer or the like and only the worksiteof the hydraulic excavator 1′ may be displayed (in the form of, e.g., amap or characters) so that a judgment as for whether the relevantexcavator is within the serviceable distance is left at the discretionof each local subcontractor.

In the case of the local subcontractor applying to the offer afterlooking at the displayed information described above, the operatorclicks an apply button 111 in the screen 110, whereupon the displayimage changes to a technical field entry screen 120.

In the technical field entry screen 120, the image file 73 in thedatabase 6A is used to display an illustration of the hydraulicexcavator, and at the same time to display the names of technical fieldsregarding parts themselves or repair/replacement of parts, which arecurrently called for subcontractors, in overlapped relation to theillustration of the hydraulic excavator. Furthermore, the technicalfield entry screen 120 prompts the local subcontractor to make an inputfor selecting the technical field as one item of the applyinginformation. In this example, four fields, i.e., “hydraulic equipment”,“welded structures”, “engine”, and “electronic equipment”, aredisplayed.

The field “hydraulic equipment” means handling (e.g., supply of partsthemselves and repair/replacement of parts) of an overall hydrauliccircuit including, for example, hydraulic actuators, such as a boomhydraulic cylinder, an arm hydraulic cylinder, a bucket hydrauliccylinder, a swing hydraulic motor and a travel hydraulic motor, ahydraulic pump as a hydraulic source for those actuators, control valvesfor controlling flows of a hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic pump tothe hydraulic actuators, pipes connecting the above-mentionedcomponents, seals, and so on.

The field “welded structures” means handling (e.g., supply of partsthemselves and repair/replacement of parts by welding) of various weldedstructures including, for example, a cover and a swing frame of an-upperswing body, a track frame of a lower travel body, operating arms such asa boom and an arm, and a digging tool such as a bucket.

The field “engine” relates to the whole of an engine driving thehydraulic pump. More specifically, it means handling (e.g., supply ofparts themselves and repair/replacement of parts) of the overall engineincluding, for example, a combustion system provided with cylinderblocks, and other peripheral mechanisms such as an intake system, a fuelsupply system, a cooling system and a lubrication system.

The field “electronic equipment” means handling (e.g., supply of partsthemselves and repair/replacement of parts) of a variety of electronicequipment including, for example, various control and display units in acab, and a control system and electrical components of the hydraulicequipment and the engine.

When the local subcontractor clicks one of technical field selectbuttons 121 a–d in the screen 120, which correspond respectively to thefields “hydraulic equipment”, “welded structures”, “engine”, and“electronic equipment”, the display image changes to an order-intakemode entry screen 130.

The order-intake mode entry screen 130 prompts the local subcontractorto make an input for selecting, as one item of the applying information,one of three options of applying only supply of parts for maintenance,only repair/replacement work, and both of them. Corresponding to thethree options, there are displayed a “parts supply” button 131 a, a“repair/replacement” button 131 b, and a “parts supply andrepair/replacement” button 131 c. When the local subcontractor clicksone of those buttons 131 a–c, the display image changes to aqualification requirement screen 140.

While the above description is made in connection with the steps ofdisplaying the work site display screen 110, making an input on thetechnical field entry screen 120, and displaying the order-intake modeentry screen 130, the present invention is not limited to such asequence of the steps. For example, after the steps of making an inputon the technical field entry screen 120 and making an input on theorder-intake mode entry screen 130, the work site display screen 110 maybe displayed to present the location requirement, etc. This sequence isparticularly effective in the case in which the location requirementimposed on the local subcontractor from the side of the dealer or thelike varies for one hydraulic excavator 1′ depending on the technicalfield (described later) and the order-intake mode (described later)(e.g., in the case in which the location requirement may be within theradius of ◯◯ km for one technical field or one order-intake mode, but itshould be within the radius of xx km for another technical field oranother order-intake mode).

After confirming the results entered on the technical field entry screen120 and the order-intake mode entry screen 130, in the qualificationrequirement screen 140, the qualification requirement file 75 in thedatabase 6A is used to extract and display summary data required for thelocal subcontractor, such as what kind of technical capability isrequired in the relevant order-intake mode in the relevant technicalmode, what levels of technical standards and accuracy are required forthe relevant part, and what kinds of equipment and facilities arenecessary, (i.e., qualification requirements).

FIG. 7 shows an example in which the field “electronic equipment” wasselected on the technical field entry screen 120 and the button“repair/replacement” was selected on the order-intake mode entry screen130. In this example, items demanded to the local subcontractor, such as“University graduate of the electrical engineering or electronicsdepartment”, “Qualified person in electric or electronic fields”, “atleast 0 years of service in electric or electronic companies”, “at least0 years of experience in soldering work”, “at least 0 years ofexperience in work regarding manufacture of electric circuits”, and“capability of preparing computer programs”, are displayed. As analternative, what kinds of work are required to perform in fact may bedisplayed in more concrete forms, such as “circuit connection in theevent of disconnection or a short circuit”, “fuse replacement”,“installation upon version-up of control programs”, and “downloading ofoperation data, etc.”.

Though not described here in detail, the qualification requirementscreen 140 is likewise displayed for the other technical field andorder-intake mode.

In the case of the local subcontractor continuing the step of applyingto the offer after looking at the displayed information described above,the operator clicks an apply button 141 in the screen 140, whereupon thedisplay image changes to an applicant information entry screen 150.

The applicant information entry screen 150 prompts the operator to enterapplicant information, such as the name of an applicant (localsubcontractor) (or the name of a person, corporation, organization,etc.), the category of business (e.g., electrical engineering,manufacturing of hydraulic equipment, automobile repair, and welding),the address, and the contact (including the phone number, E-mailaddress, etc.). After entering those items of information, when thelocal subcontractor clicks, e.g., a “confirm” button 151, the contentsof the confirmed information are transmitted to the intermediate server6 and immediately loaded and stored, as the applicant information file76, in the database 6A together with the assigned applicant number (seeFIG. 6).

At that time, the location information entered from the localsubcontractor on the screen 150 may be recognized as coordinate valueinformation (position data) on map data by using the map informationstored as the map file 72 in the database 6A, and the thus-recognizedposition data may also be written and stored in the applicantinformation file 76.

After completion of the above-described step, the display image changesto an examination sheet screen 160.

In the examination sheet screen 160, the examination sheet file 71 inthe database 6A is used to prepare, depending on the results entered onthe technical field entry screen 120 and the order-intake mode entryscreen 130, an examination sheet (test sheet) for examining whether therelevant applicant meets the qualification requirements for the relevantorder-intake mode in the relevant technical field, and then to displaythe examination sheet (in the form of prompting the operator to fillpredetermined blanks in the sheet). The examination sheet will bedescribed in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 8 to 11.

-   (3) Examination Sheet

FIGS. 8 to 11 each show one example of the examination sheet (questionsheet) displayed when the field “electronic equipment” was selected onthe technical field entry screen 120 and the button “repair/replacement”was selected on the order-intake mode entry screen 130. Each of theexamination sheets of FIGS. 8, 9, 10 and 11 provides one major question.A test in this embodiment is made up of four questions in total.

A first question shown in FIG. 8 is in the form selecting a correct oneof listed options corresponding to each blank. A voltage-currentcharacteristic of a heating wire is depicted as shown. Then, questionsare set as follows: (1) what is a value of the current flowing when avoltage of 20 V is applied?; and (2) What relationship does existbetween voltage and current, and what's Law is the relationship? A totalof seven options are listed in a lower area as follows: “A; 0.15 A”, “B;1.5 A”, “C; 15A”, “D; proportional”, “E; inverse proportional”, “F;Ohm”, and “G; Fleming”.

A second question shown in FIG. 9 is in the form entering a numericalvalue in each blank. A simple circuit comprising a power supply of 13.2V, two 10-Ω resistances, two 20-Ω resistances, switches S1, S2, and anammeter is depicted as shown. Then, questions are set as follows: (1)what ampere does the ammeter point when only the switch S1 is closed?;(2) what ampere does the ammeter point when only the switch S2 isclosed?; and (3) how much volts is the voltage between points A and B,and how much amperes is the current flowing a point P when the ammeterpoints 0.6 ampere upon closing of both the switches S1 and S3?

A third question shown in FIG. 10 is also in the form entering anumerical value in each blank. A circuit comprising a power supply,three 8-Ω resistances R1, R2 and R3, a resistance R4 having an unknownvalue, and two ammeters is depicted as shown. Then, questions are set asfollows: on condition that the ammeter 1 points 5 A and the ammeter 2points 2 A, (1) through which ones of the resistances does a currentflow at the same value?; (2) what ampere is a value of the currentflowing through the resistance R3?; (3) how much volts is the voltageapplied to the resistance R4?; (4) what Ohm is a value of the resistanceR4?; and (5) how much volts is the voltage between both ends of thepower supply shown in FIG. 10?

A fourth question shown in FIG. 11 is in the form of selecting a correctone of listed options corresponding to each blank. A voltage-currentcharacteristic of a heating wire is depicted as shown. A circuitcomprising a DC power supply, resistances H1, H2 made of the samematerial and differing from each other only in cross-sectional area, aswitch, a voltmeter, and an ammeter is depicted as shown inIllustration 1. Then, questions are set as follows: on condition thatthe voltmeter points 6 V and the ammeter connected to a terminal of 500mA is in the state as shown in Illustration 2 when the switch is turnedon, and that a value ratio of the resistance H1 to H2 is 1:4, (1) whatampere should be read as a current value from the ammeter shown inIllustration 2?; (2) what is a cross-sectional area ratio between theresistances H1 and H2?; and (3) what Ohm is a value of the resistanceH1?, and how much volts is the voltage of the DC power supply? A totalof eight options are listed in a lower area as follows: “{circle around(1)} 10.5”, “{circle around (2)} 150”, “{circle around (3)} 4:1”,“{circle around (4)} 1:4”, “{circle around (5)} 16:1”, “{circle around(6)} 1:16”, “{circle around (7)} 10”, and “{circle around (8)} 7.5”.

While the above description is made, by way of example, in connectionwith the case in which the local subcontractor accesses the home page ofthe dealer or the like, obtains the examination sheet, and puts answersdirectly in the examination sheet, the present invention is not limitedto that case. For example, the examination sheet may be sent to thelocal subcontractor at a later date (or time) via E-mail based on theapplicant information entered by the local subcontractor.

When the local subcontractor clicks, e.g., an “end-of-answer” button(not shown) after entering (or selecting) an answer corresponding toeach question in the examination sheets, the contents of the confirmedanswers are transmitted to the intermediate server 6 and immediatelyloaded and stored, as the applicant answer file 74, in the database 6Atogether with the assigned applicant number. At this time, the contentsof the confirmed answers may also be stored in correspondence to theapplicant information file 76.

After obtaining the answer information from each of the applicants insuch a manner, the intermediate server 6 belonging to the dealer or thelike marks the transmitted answers and selects optimum one of all theapplicants who is regarded as an optimum subcontractor for receiving theorder with respect to the relevant technical field and order-intakemode, taking into account passing standards (such as the rate of correctanswers and, if necessary, the time having been spent to enter theanswers) which are considered to be sufficient to determine thesubcontractor taking charge of the relevant services. Then, acertificate indicating that the selected applicant has been certified asa subcontractor for the predetermined repair/replacement, the supply ofthe predetermined parts, or both of them is prepared and sent to thesubcontractor's personal computer 62 belonging to the relevant localsubcontractor via, e.g., E-mail. Preferably, a notice informing theother applicants of the fact that they have not been unfortunatelyselected as the certified factory or the like in this offer is sent tothe subcontractor's personal computers 62 belonging to those applicantsvia, e.g., E-mail.

The above-described procedures of marking the answers, selecting theoptimum local subcontractor, and sending the certificate may be manuallyby the operator of the intermediate server 6. As an alternative, anautomating program may be installed in the intermediate server 6beforehand so as to automatically execute all the procedures ofaccepting answers to the examination sheets, making the answers, andselecting a passed applicant, including the procedure of sending thecertificate if necessary. Instead of sending the certificate, it is alsopossible to just inform the selected applicant (namely, to just makecertification) of the fact that the relevant applicant has beencertified as a subcontractor (i.e., that the relevant services areordered to the selected applicant).

The personal computer 62 of the local subcontractor who has beencertified as a service subcontractor for the hydraulic excavator 1′ insuch a way (hereinafter referred to as the “certified subcontractor”) isincorporated in the management system described above in connection withFIG. 3 after predetermined procedures such as certification of user ID,and then starts to execute the business required as the servicesubcontractor for the relevant hydraulic excavator 1′ in place of thedealer or the like.

More specifically, the operation data is downloaded from the controller2 of the hydraulic excavator 1′ in a remote site to the portableterminal 3 together with the machine body data, which is carried withthe user of the hydraulic excavator 1′ or the certified subcontractor,followed by further downloading to a user-side personal computer 4′. Theoperation data and the machine body data thus downloaded are processedin the user-side personal computer 4′ by using an application programinstalled therein beforehand (or distributed from the side of the dealeror the like or the certified subcontractor and installed as required),and are then displayed in a predetermined format as service informationrepresenting the operation status of the relevant hydraulic excavator.

On the other hand, as in the case of the data of the hydraulic excavator1 described above, for example, when the homepage of the dealer or thelike (or the certified subcontractor) is accessed from the user-sidepersonal computer 4′, whether new data is stored in the user-sidepersonal computer 4′ is automatically searched from the side of the mainserver 5 via the intermediate server 6 (or the subcontractor's personalcomputer 62). If new data is found., the new data is sucked up from theuser-side personal computer 4′ to the side of the main server 5 in theunprocessed state upon consent of the user side whenever accessed. Onthat occasion, in addition to the operation data and the machine bodydata of the hydraulic excavator 1′, check data, repair data, etc.obtained at the time of routine check may also be manually entered forcollection by the certified subcontractor. Such entered data may also betaken into the main server 5.

In a first aspect, the operation data and the machine body data of thehydraulic excavator 1′ transmitted to the main server 5 are sent in theunprocessed state to the intermediate server 6, the subcontractor'spersonal computer 62, and further to the user-side personal computer 4′belonging to the user of the relevant hydraulic excavator 1′. Inpractice, for example, those data is downloaded to the user-sidepersonal computer 4′ with predetermined manipulation made on theuser-side personal computer 4′ (for example, through steps of accessingthe homepage of the dealer or the like or the certified subcontractorand clicking a download button on a predetermined screen image).

In a second aspect, similarly to the operation data and the machine bodydata of the other many hydraulic excavators 1, the operation data andthe machine body data of the hydraulic excavator 1′ transmitted to themain server 5 is also accumulated in the main server 5, and subjected tothe various analyses in the machine-body/operation data processing unit50 and the product-exchange and part-repair/replacement data processingunit 51 as described above. Thus, the operation data and the machinebody data of the hydraulic excavator 1′ serve as a part of the data usedfor preparing the distribution graph of the number of working hydraulicexcavators, the distribution graph of the number of exchanged hydraulicexcavators, and the distribution graph of the number ofrepaired/replaced parts. Eventually, those data further serve as a partof the data for use in predicting the demand, planning a parts sellingplan, and setting the planned selling price, the campaign price and thecampaign period in the sales planning unit 53. The planned sellingprice, the discount sales period, and the discount selling price thusset are outputted, as basic information for the services presented tothe customer owing the hydraulic excavator 1′, from the main server 5 tothe subcontractor's personal computer 62 via the intermediate server 6.

Based on the input information, the subcontractor's personal computer 62instead of the intermediate server 6 prepares an advice note for partssales, as service information presented to each customer, and transmitsthe advice note to the user-side personal computer 4′ by E-mail, forexample, (as an alternative, the user-side personal computer 4′ mayaccess the homepage of the certified subcontractor and download theadvice note with manipulation made on the side of the user-side personalcomputer 4′).

As a result of receiving the advice note from the certifiedsubcontractor 62 via E-mail and the operation data and the machine bodydata themselves in the unprocessed state, the user-side personalcomputer 4′ can display the advice note for the corresponding hydraulicexcavator 1′ and the above-mentioned various screen images related tothe hydraulic excavator 1′. Upon looking at those various displayedimages, the customer (user, etc.) requests explanation, analysis, etc.for the certified subcontractor, if necessary, regarding, e.g., thecontents and form of the displayed information. In reply, instead of thedealer or the like, the certified subcontractor goes to the customerside to make explanation and analysis in response to questions, demands,etc. from the customer side.

The above-described information processing system of this has advantagesgiven below.

For the hydraulic excavator 1′ working in a remote site far away fromthe dealer or the like, a subcontractor being located within a nearrange from the work site and suitable for presenting services is calledfor and certified on the homepage, and the certified subcontractor iscommissioned to perform the service business. Therefore, satisfactoryservices can be presented to even the customer owing the hydraulicexcavator 1′.

More specifically, the certified subcontractor taking charge of theservices for the hydraulic excavator 1′ goes to the work siteperiodically or on demand from the user side, and recognizes, forexample, site situations and demands of the customer (user, etc.)through constant contact with the customer. Corresponding to the sitesituations and the demands, the certified subcontractor carries outrepair/replacement of parts, etc. for the relevant hydraulic excavator1′ based on his own capability and judgment. Also, the certifiedsubcontractor makes explanation, analysis, and responses to questions,demands, etc. from the customer side regarding the data processing forthe hydraulic excavator 1′, the contents and form of the serviceinformation finally displayed on the user-side personal computer 4′,etc.

Further, based on the information inputted from the main server 5 viathe intermediate server 5 such as the dealer, it is possible, asdescribed above, to download the input information into the user-sidepersonal computer 4′ for display as final service information in apredetermined form, or to select or restrict the input information byactuating a lock so that a part of the information cannot be downloaded,or by disabling display of a download screen itself.

While the above embodiment has been described, by way of example, inconnection with a hydraulic excavator as one of construction machines,the present invention is not limited to the hydraulic excavator, but isalso applicable to other types of construction machines, such as acrawler crane and a wheel loader. These cases can also provide similaradvantages to those obtained with the above embodiment.

Moreover, applications of the present invention are not limited toconstruction machines, and the present invention is further applicableto general digging and loading machines working in mine sites (such as ascraper, a rock drill (drill machine), and large-sized hydraulicexcavators, wheel loaders, motor graders, etc. employed in mines). Thesecases can also provide similar advantages to those obtained with theabove embodiment.

The above embodiment is described, by way of example, in connection withthe case in which the intermediate server 6 (described later) serves asa service server on the side providing information calling for aconstruction-machine parts supply and repair/replacement subcontractor,and this service server is installed in the dealer or the like whoexists nearer to the work site of the construction machine owned by thecustomer than the manufacturer, but has a difficulty in promptlypresenting the services from the above-mentioned various circumstances.As mentioned above, however, the present invention is not limited tosuch an example. For instance, when the manufacturer or an informationmanagement firm commissioned from the manufacturer is located relativelynear the work site of the construction machine owned by the customer,but has a difficulty in promptly presenting the services, the serviceserver may be installed in, instead of the dealer or the like, themanufacturer or the information management firm. In such a case, theintermediate server 6 may be disposed in the manufacturer or theinformation management firm, or the function of the service server maybe incorporated in the main server 5. It is a matter of course that, inanticipation of various cases, the service server may be installed ineach of the manufacturer, the information management firm, the dealer orthe like in each area. This can also provide similar advantages to thoseobtained with the above embodiment. In addition, because the informationcalling for a service subcontractor can be browsed on not only thehomepage of the neighboring dealer or the like, but also on the homepageof the manufacturer or the information management firm, it is possibleto more efficiently perform the procedure of calling for the servicesubcontractor.

INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

According to the present invention, the selling company or the like canmake a judgment whether an applicant is suitable as a subcontractortaking charge of services to the customer, and therefore can certify, asthe subcontractor, one of the applicants who has been judged as optimum,so that the services to the relevant customer are commissioned to thecertified subcontractor in place of the selling company or the like.Hence, even when the work site is in a remote place far away from theselling company or the like, it is possible to call for and select thesubcontractor suitable for presenting the services in a near range fromthe work site, and to present satisfactory services to the customer.

1. An information processing system for construction machines, whichpresents, to customers owing construction machines, service informationfor each of said construction machines, wherein said informationprocessing system comprises: a database for storing predeterminedqualification requirements with regard to a working capability,equipment and facilities necessary for repair/replacement of parts ofone of said construction machines; and a service server disposed on theside providing information calling for a repair/replacementsubcontractor for said one construction machine and connected via acommunication network to terminals on the side of recipients receivingthe information calling for the repair/replacement subcontractor forsaid one construction machine, said service server executing the stepsof: displaying a work site of said one construction machine or apredetermined area regarding the work site at said terminals on theinformation recipient side, and prompting an input for applying to anorder of repair/replacement work for parts belonging to a predeterminedcomponent section of said one construction machine; confirming applyinginformation entered from said terminals on the information recipientside; extracting the predetermined qualification requirements, whichhave been stored in said database beforehand, from said database basedon the applying information received in said confirming step; producing,based on the qualification requirements extracted in said extractingstep, an examination sheet for determining whether the informationrecipient meets the extracted qualification requirements; andtransmitting the examination sheet produced in said producing step tosaid terminals on the information recipient side via said communicationnetwork, and prompting an input in predetermined places of theexamination sheet.
 2. An information processing system for constructionmachines according to claim 1, wherein said service server executes thesteps of: receiving information entered in the predetermined places ofthe examination sheet and transmitted from said terminals on theinformation recipient side; determining, based on the enteredinformation received in said receiving step, who of the informationrecipients meets the qualification requirements; producing, if thedetermination is affirmatively made in said determining step, a proofindicating that the relevant information recipient has been certified asthe parts-supply subcontractor, the repair/replacement subcontractor, orthe parts-supply and repair/replacement subcontractor; and transmittingthe proof of the certification produced in said producing step tocorresponding one of said terminals on the information recipient side.3. An information processing system for construction machines accordingto any claim 1, wherein said service server is disposed in amanufacturer or an information management firm commissioned from saidmanufacturer, who is located in a region far away from the work site ofsaid one construction machine owned by the customer and faces adifficulty in presenting services directly to the customer.
 4. Aninformation processing system for construction machines according toclaim 1, wherein said service server is disposed in a commissionedservice agency who is located closer to the work site of said oneconstruction machine (1) owned by the customer than a manufacturer, butfaces a difficulty in promptly presenting services the customer due toindividual circumstances.
 5. An information processing system forconstruction machines according to claim 1, wherein said service serveris disposed in a manufacturer or an information management firmcommissioned from said manufacturer, who is located in a region far awayfrom the work site of said one construction machine owned by thecustomer and faces a difficulty in presenting services directly to thecustomer, or in a commissioned service agency who is located closer tothe work site than said manufacturer, but faces a difficulty in promptlypresenting services the customer due to individual circumstances.
 6. Aninformation processing system for construction machines, which presents,to customers owing construction machines, service information for eachof said construction machines, wherein said information processingsystem comprises: a database for storing predetermined qualificationrequirements with regard to parts necessary for repair/-replacement ofone of said construction machines; and a service server disposed on theside providing information calling for a subcontractor for supplyingparts of said construction machine and connected via a communicationnetwork to terminals on the side of recipients receiving the informationcalling for the parts supply subcontractor for said one constructionmachine, said service server executing the steps of: displaying a worksite of said one construction machine or a predetermined area regardingthe work site at said terminals on the information recipient side, andprompting an input for applying to an order of supply of parts necessaryfor repair/replacement related to a predetermined component section ofsaid one construction machine; confirming applying information enteredfrom said terminals on the information recipient side; extracting thepredetermined qualification requirements, which have been stored in saiddatabase beforehand, from said database based on the applyinginformation received in said confirming step; producing, based on thequalification requirements extracted in said extracting step, anexamination sheet for determining whether the information recipientmeets the extracted qualification requirements; and transmitting theexamination sheet produced in said producing step to said terminals onthe information recipient side via said communication network, andprompting an input in predetermined places of the examination sheet. 7.An information processing system for construction machines, whichpresents, to customers owing construction machines, service informationfor each of said construction machines, wherein said informationprocessing system comprises: a database for storing predeterminedqualification requirements with regard to parts necessary forrepair/-replacement of one of said construction machines and a workingcapability, equipment and facilities necessary for therepair/replacement; and a service server disposed on the side providinginformation calling for a parts-supply and repair/-replacementsubcontractor for said construction machine and connected via acommunication network to terminals on the side of recipients receivingthe information calling for the parts-supply and repair/replacementsubcontractor for said one construction machine, said service serverexecuting the steps of: displaying a work site of said one constructionmachine or a predetermined area regarding the work site at saidterminals on the information recipient side, and prompting an input forapplying to an order of supply of parts necessary for repair/replacementrelated to a predetermined component section of said one constructionmachine and work of the repair/replacement; confirming applyinginformation entered from said terminals on the information recipientside; extracting the predetermined qualification requirements, whichhave been stored in said database beforehand, from said database basedon the applying information received in said confirming step; producing,based on the qualification requirements extracted in said extractingstep, an examination sheet for determining whether the informationrecipient meets the extracted qualification requirements; andtransmitting the examination sheet produced in said producing step tosaid terminals on the information recipient side via said communicationnetwork, and prompting an input in predetermined places of theexamination sheet.
 8. An information processing method for constructionmachines via a communication network connecting terminals on the side ofrecipients receiving information calling for a repair/replacementsubcontractor for a construction machine and a service server disposedon the side providing the information calling for the repair/replacementsubcontractor for said construction machine, wherein said service serverexecutes the steps of: displaying a work site of said constructionmachine or a predetermined area regarding the work site at saidterminals on the information recipient side, and prompting an input forapplying to an order of repair/replacement work for parts belonging to apredetermined component section of said construction machine; confirmingapplying information entered from said terminals on the informationrecipient side; extracting predetermined qualification requirements withregard to a working capability, equipment and facilities necessary forrepair/replacement of parts of said construction machine, which havebeen stored in a database beforehand, from said database based on theapplying information received in said confirming step; producing, basedon the qualification requirements extracted in said extracting step, anexamination sheet for determining whether the information recipientmeets the extracted qualification requirements; and transmitting theexamination sheet produced in said producing step to said terminals onthe information recipient side via said communication network, andprompting an input in predetermined places of the examination sheet. 9.An information processing method for construction machines according toclaim 8, wherein said service server executes the steps of: receivinginformation entered in the predetermined places of the examination sheetand transmitted from said terminals on the information recipient side;determining, based on the entered information received in said receivingstep, who of the information recipients meets the qualificationrequirements; producing, if the determination is affirmatively made insaid determining step, a proof indicating that the relevant informationrecipient has been certified as the parts-supply subcontractor, therepair/replacement subcontractor, or the parts-supply andrepair/replacement subcontractor; and transmitting the proof of thecertification produced in said producing step to corresponding one ofsaid terminals on the information recipient side.
 10. An informationprocessing method for construction machines according to claim 8,wherein said service server is disposed in a manufacturer or aninformation management firm commissioned from said manufacturer, who islocated in a region far away from the work site of said constructionmachine owned by the customer and faces a difficulty in presentingservices directly to the customer.
 11. An information processing methodfor construction machines according to claim 8, wherein said serviceserver is disposed in a commissioned service agency who is locatedcloser to the work site of said construction machine owned by thecustomer than a manufacturer, but faces a difficulty in promptlypresenting services the customer due to individual circumstances.
 12. Aninformation processing method for construction machines according toclaim 8, wherein said service server is disposed in a manufacturer or aninformation management firm commissioned from said manufacturer, who islocated in a region far away from the work site of said constructionmachine owned by the customer and faces a difficulty in presentingservices directly to the customer, or in a commissioned service agencywho is located closer to the work site than said manufacturer, but facesa difficulty in promptly presenting services the customer due toindividual circumstances.
 13. An information processing method forconstruction machines via a communication network connecting terminalson the side of recipients receiving information calling for arepair/replacement subcontractor for a construction machine and aservice server disposed on the side providing the information callingfor the repair/replacement subcontractor for said construction machine,wherein said service server executes the steps of: displaying a worksite of said construction machine or a predetermined area regarding thework site at said terminals on the information recipient side, andprompting an input for applying to an order of supply of parts necessaryfor repair/replacement related to a predetermined component section ofsaid construction machine; confirming applying information entered fromsaid terminals on the information recipient side; extractingpredetermined qualification requirements with regard to parts necessaryfor repair/replacement of said construction machine, which have beenstored in a database beforehand, from said database based on theapplying information received in said confirming step; producing, basedon the qualification requirements extracted in said extracting step, anexamination sheet for determining whether the information recipientmeets the extracted qualification requirements; and transmitting theexamination sheet produced in said producing step to said terminals onthe information recipient side via said communication network, andprompting an input in predetermined places of the examination sheet. 14.An information processing method for construction machines via acommunication network connecting terminals on the side of recipientsreceiving information calling for a repair/replacement subcontractor fora construction machine and a service server disposed on the sideproviding the information calling for the repair/replacementsubcontractor for said construction machine, wherein said service serverexecutes the steps of: displaying a work site of said constructionmachine or a predetermined area regarding the work site at saidterminals on the information recipient side, and prompting an input forapplying to an order of supply of parts necessary for repair/replacementrelated to a predetermined component section of said constructionmachine and work of the repair/replacement; confirming applyinginformation entered from said terminals on the information recipientside; extracting predetermined qualification requirements with regard toparts necessary for repair/replacement of said construction machine anda working capability, equipment and facilities necessary for therepair/-replacement, which have been stored in a database beforehand,from said database based on the applying information received in saidconfirming step; producing, based on the qualification requirementsextracted in said extracting step, an examination sheet for determiningwhether the information recipient meets the extracted qualificationrequirements; and transmitting the examination sheet produced in saidproducing step to said terminals on the information recipient side viasaid communication network, and prompting an input in predeterminedplaces of the examination sheet.